TRANSPORT CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING DATA ON A TRANSPORT CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport container having: a frame structure which encloses a transport chamber, a lateral wall which is connected to the frame structure, an opening device for converting the lateral wall between a closed position, which lies against the frame structure and in which a lateral loading opening of the frame structure is closed by the lateral wall, and an open position, which releases the lateral loading opening, a display device for displaying data on the exterior of the lateral wall, a measuring device for detecting the open position of the lateral wall, and a release device for releasing the display device for displaying data upon detecting the open position of the lateral wall. The invention additionally relates to a method for displaying data on a lateral wall of a transport container.

Claims

1. A transport container, in particular a vehicle frame or container comprising: a frame structure, which encloses a transport chamber; a lateral wall which is connected to the frame structure; an opening device for converting the lateral wall between a closed position, which lies on the frame structure and in which a lateral loading opening of the frame structure is closed by the lateral wall, and an open position, which releases the lateral opening; a display device for displaying data on an exterior of the lateral wall; a measuring device for detecting the open position of the lateral wall; and a release device for releasing the display device for displaying data upon detecting the open position of the lateral wall.

2. The transport container of claim 1, wherein the opening device comprises a drive.

3. The transport container of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is equipped to detect an activation duration of the drive or to detect an opening angle of the lateral wall or to detect a travel path of the cylinder-piston drive.

4. The transport container of claim 1, wherein the release device comprises an electronic control unit.

5. The transport container of claim 4, further comprising a data receiver for receiving transmission data, from a remote communication module, wherein the electronic control unit is equipped to select data for displaying on the display device depending on the transmission data from the remote communication module.

6. The transport container of claim 1, further comprising a cargo securing device is for securing cargo in a transport chamber, wherein the display device is equipped for displaying load information with respect to the cargo.

7. The transport container of claim 6, further comprising a detector unit for detecting a secured state of the cargo at the cargo securing device, wherein the display device is equipped for displaying the secured state of the cargo at the cargo securing device.

8. The transport container claim 1, wherein the lateral wall comprises at least one upper lateral wall part and one lower lateral wall part, wherein the upper lateral wall part is connected to the lower lateral wall part via a pivot axis.

9. The transport container of claim 2, wherein the opening device comprises a lift arm articulatedly connected to the lateral wall, wherein the drive is equipped for torque transmission to the lift arm.

10. A method for displaying data on a lateral wall of a transport container, comprising the steps: converting the lateral wall from a closed position into an open position; detecting the open position of the lateral wall; and releasing the display of data on the lateral wall upon detecting the open position of the lateral wall.

11. The transport container of claim 2, wherein the drive is a linear drive.

12. The transport container of claim 2, wherein the drive is a cylinder-piston drive.

13. The transport container of claim 5, wherein the transmission data is cellular data or broadcast data for communication via WLAN or Bluetooth.

Description

[0036] The invention will subsequently be explained in greater detail by way of an exemplary embodiment depicted in the figures.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a transport container according to the invention in the form of a vehicle structure with a display device on a lateral wall depicted in the closed position.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows the transport container from FIG. 1 in the open position of the lateral wall.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows the transport container from FIGS. 1, 2 in the open position of the lateral wall, wherein load information for stowing cargo in the interior of the transport container is displayed on the display device.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram with electrical components for controlling the display of data on the display device.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the transport container with a rear wall, which may be pivoted upwards, and on which information and advertisements may be displayed.

[0042] FIG. 1 schematically shows an essentially cuboidal transport container 1, which is designed as a vehicle structure for a commercial vehicle in the embodiment shown. Transport container 1 has a frame structure 2 with horizontally and vertically arranged frame parts, merely schematically indicated in the drawings. A roof area 3 is provided on the upper side of frame structure 2. Frame structure 2 of transport container 1 includes a transport chamber 4 for storing cargo 5. Transport container 1 has two lateral walls 6 and a rear wall 7, which delimit transport chamber 4 in the interior of frame structure 2. To load transport container 1, at least one of lateral walls 6 is pivotably mounted about a horizontal pivot axis on frame structure 2. To pivot lateral wall 6, transport container 1 has an opening device 8. Upon opening transport container 1, lateral wall 6 is converted from a closed position (FIG. 1) which lies against frame structure 2, into an open position (FIGS. 2, 3) which is arranged essentially above roof area 3. In the open position of lateral wall 6, a lateral loading opening 9 is released so that transport chamber 4 of transport container 1 may be loaded via lateral loading opening 9. Starting from the open position shown, lateral wall 6 may preferably be pivoted farther into a stowed position which lies essentially on roof area 3 (not shown).

[0043] In the closed position according to FIG. 1, lateral walls 6 are arranged in a vertical plane on the longitudinal sides of transport container 1. Lateral walls 6 on the longitudinal sides of transport container 1 are respectively designed as two parts in the embodiment shown, with an upper lateral wall part 6a and a lower lateral wall part 6b. Upper lateral wall part 6a and lower lateral wall part 6b of lateral wall 6 are articulately connected to each other. However, one part lateral walls 6 may also be provided (not shown).

[0044] To convert lateral wall 6 between the closed position and the open position, a lift arm 10 is provided, which is mounted on one end around a horizontal pivot axis on frame structure 2, and is connected at the other end to upper lateral wall part 6b of lateral wall 6. In the embodiment shown, the pivot axis of lateral wall 6 on frame structure 2 and the pivot axis of lift arm 10 on frame structure 2 coincide. In the embodiment shown, lift arm 10 is formed by an elongated, fixed-length rod. Lift arm 10 is connected to a drive 11 with which lateral wall 6 is autonomously convertible from the closed position into the open position. Drive 11 has, in particular, a hydraulically actuatable linear drive 12 with a cylinder 13 and a piston 14, wherein piston 14 is displaceable out of cylinder 13 by controlling linear drive 12. Linear drive 12 is articulatedly connected at one end to a vertical frame part of frame structure 2. At the other end, linear drive 12 is connected to a force transmission element 15, which has two lever arms articulatedly connected to each other. The one lever arm is articulately connected at one end to lift arm 10 and at the other end is articulatedly connected to piston 14. The other lever arm is articulately connected at one end to frame structure 2 and at the other end is articulately connected to the one lever arm. Such a design is known from AT 517 056 A1, so that a more detailed description may be set aside here.

[0045] In the embodiment shown, lateral wall 6 is connected on the side of the pivot axis on frame structure 2 to a torsion shaft element, which is rotationally fixedly coupled to lift arm 10. By pivoting lift arm 10 about the pivot axis between lateral wall 6 and frame structure 2, the torsion shaft element is correspondingly pivoted, so that lateral wall 6 is brought from the closed position into the open position (see FIG. 2). The opening device depicted is merely exemplary; in the prior art, the most varied other embodiments are disclosed with which the lateral wall may be brought into the open position.

[0046] In the embodiment shown, transport container 1 additionally has a display device 19 for displaying data on the exterior of lateral wall 6.

[0047] Furthermore, in FIG. 4, a recognizable measuring device 20 is provided for detecting the open position of lateral wall 6. Measuring device 20 communicates with a release device 21, which is equipped to release the display of data in the open position of lateral wall 6, yet to block this in the closed position and in the intermediate positions between the closed position and the open position. This functionality is implemented in the transport container at least as an autonomous operating mode. However, it is conceivable that the transport container may be used in another operating mode, in which the display of data is enabled before the attainment of the open position, in particular already in the closed position. The additional operating mode would be suited, for example, for countries with low levels of government regulations.

[0048] Depending on the embodiment, measuring device 20 may, for example, be equipped for detecting an activation duration of drive 11, in order to infer, from the activation duration of drive 11 and the known opening speed of drive 11, that the open position is attained after initiation of the opening process.

[0049] Release device 21 has an electronic control unit 22, with which the display of data on display device 19 is controlled. Electronic control unit 22 is connected in the embodiment shown to a local data memory 23, which contains data for displaying on the display device 19. In addition, electronic control unit 22 is connected in the embodiment shown to a data receiver 24, with which transmission data may be received, for example, cellular data or broadcast data for communicating per WLAN or Bluetooth, from a remote communication module, for example, a cellular device. Electronic control unit 22 may control the display on display device 19 depending on the received data.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a preferred refinement of transport container according to FIGS. 1, 2, wherein a cargo securing device 25 for securing cargo 5 in transport chamber 4 is (schematically) visible. Load information related to cargo 5 is depicted on display device 19. In the embodiment shown, visual depictions of cargo 5 are displayed directly above the associated loading points in transport chamber 4 in order to facilitate the arrangement of cargo 5.

[0051] In addition, a detector unit 26 (see FIG. 4) is provided for detecting a secured state of cargo 5 at cargo securing device 25. Detector unit 26 is connected to electronic control unit 22, which is informed by detector unit 26 about the secured state of cargo 5. Thus, the achievement of the secured state of cargo securing device 25 is displayed on display device 19, for example via a symbolic depiction of the proper latching or lashing of cargo 5.

[0052] Display device 19 has at least one first display element, which extends preferably essentially across the entire length and height of lower lateral wall part 6b. In addition, display device 19 may have a second display element, which may extend essentially across the entire height and length of upper lateral wall part 6a.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a modified embodiment of transport container 1, in which rear wall 7 has at least one upper rear wall part 7a and one lower rear wall part 7b. Upper rear wall part 7a is connected to lower rear wall part 7b via a horizontal pivot axis. Upper rear wall part 7a is connected to frame structure 2 via a horizontal pivot axis, so that rear wall 7 is pivotable between a closed position (not shown) and an open position releasing a rear side loading opening (see FIG. 5). According to the embodiment, display device 19 may have a third display element, which preferably extends essentially across the entire height and length of lower rear wall part 7b. In addition, a fourth display element may be provided, which extends preferably essentially across the entire length and height of upper rear wall part 7a.

[0054] The first, second, third, and/or fourth display element may respectively be a display, for example, an OLED display.

[0055] In addition, a rod 27 is schematically visible in FIG. 5, which is articulately connected to the lower end of lower lateral wall part 6b. Rod 27 is adjustable in length by means of a spring 28 in order to facilitate a secure arrangement of lateral wall 6 in the closed position. This embodiment is known from AT 404 011 B, so that a more detailed description may be set aside here.